Missed opportunities result in another UConn loss, 24-17 to Houston

Missed opportunities result in another UConn loss, 24-17...

1of3UConn quarterback Jack Zergiotis (11) sets to pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Houston on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in East Hartford, Conn.Photo: Associated Press

2of3UConn running back Kevin Mensah (34) gains yardage against Houston linebacker Jordan Carmouche (8) during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in East Hartford, Conn.Photo: Associated Press

3of3UConn running back Art Thompkins (1) scores while being chased by Houston linebacker Terrance Edgeston (42) during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday in East Hartford, Conn.Photo: Stephen Dunn / Associated Press

EAST HARTFORD — It was tantalizingly close, a bona fide winnable game for a group of players in dire need of something to celebrate.

Yet when the UConn football team was the cusp of something good, there was always a speed bump. An overthrown pass from the freshman quarterback, a missed field goal, a failure to score on four downs from within 4 yards, a missed tackle or ill-advised penalty … one thing after another.

Facing a program garnering national attention for seemingly tanking its season, UConn had an opportunity Saturday afternoon at Rentschler Field.

Alas, it ended like the 21 previous games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents — another loss.

UConn lost 24-17 to Houston, coming closer than it has in any loss this season. Yet the Huskies (1-6 overall, 0-4 in the American Athletic Conference) ultimately failed and extended their litany of streaks: six losses in a row, 15 straight in the conference, 22 consecutive against FBS opponents.

Houston (3-4, 1-2) has been a chaotic program under first-year coach Dana Holgorsen. Starting quarterback D’Eriq King and receiver Keith Corbin were redshirted after a 1-3 start, even though both are healthy. Both will be available next season.

That led to charges of tanking, which was heightened by a series of tweets from former Cougars offensive lineman Justin Murphy.

An ESPN sideline microphone picked up Holgorsen screaming in the second quarter Saturday, “I can’t (expletive) coach this (expletive).”

UConn led 7-3 early in the second quarter — its first lead since taking a 3-0 lead on Indiana on Sept. 21 — but trailed 10-7 at halftime. It was 10-10 in the third before Houston scored two unanswered touchdowns.

But there was a missed-field attempt. There was a loss on downs after Kevin Mensah ran 58 yards to set up a first-and-goal from the Houston 4.

“When you get opportunities, you’ve got to take advantage of those opportunities,” UConn coach Randy Edsall said. “We just didn’t do that today. And it was all three phases that we had the opportunities to make some things happen and we didn’t.”

Edsall said he was proud of his players, who “battled their tails off and competed for 60 minutes.” But he again talked about the program’s youth, the number of freshmen and sophomores logging significant playing time.

Freshman Jack Zergiotis started at quarterback and completed 27 of 44 passes for 270 yards. There were numerous overthrows on deep balls which Edsall attributed to inexperience.

“Just like our program,” Edsall said. “We’re a work in progress. It’s not going to happen over night.”

After the loss to Tulane last week, Edsall indicated graduate transfer Jack Beaudry would remain the starting quarterback. But Zergiotis, the Montreal native, was back taking snaps.

“I just made the decision,” Edsall said. “I thought he was best for us going forward. I think I have enough credibility to film and watch things that go on and be able to make those kinds of decisions.”

Zergiotis said of his performance: “I’ve got to get the balls to my guys and I couldn’t do it today. I think there was at least five opportunities down field where I had some guys open down field and I overthrew them. Got to get better.”

Houston took a 17-10 lead on a 58-yard pass from Logan Holgorsen — Dana’s son — to Jere Singleton with 3:31 left in the third quarter. On UConn’s ensuing possession, Mensah ran 58 yards on first down.

UConn stood 4 yards from the end zone. Art Tompkins was stopped for no gain. Zergiotis threw an incomplete pass to Mensah. Tompkins gained 2 yards.

On fourth-and-goal at the 2, Tompkins was stuffed at the line.

“We just didn’t want it enough,” Tompkins said. “At the end of the day, when we get down there at the goal line, (it’s) just who wants it more, who’s tougher, who’s hungrier. We weren’t hungry, they were.

The ball was in my hands, putting all that weight on my shoulders. Regardless of what happens, I’ve just got to be more physical and get in the end zone. It would have been a different ball game. So that’s on me.”

Said Edsall: “You’ve got to be able to put the ball in there. You want guys up front that say, ‘Just run it behind me … run it behind me and we’re going to put it in there.’”

Zergiotis called the sequence “demoralizing.”

The Cougars would extend the lead before UConn mounted a late drive, culminating in a 7-yard touchdown pass from Zergiotis to Tompkins with 1:40 left. But the Huskies couldn’t execute an on-side kick and the smattering of fans left at Rentschler departed as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

Next up: UMass (1-6). The Huskies lost to the northern neighbors last year. UMass is 19-72 since elevating to FBS level in 2012.